FCT promotes inclusion and digital literacy of Portuguese people

An “Integrated System for Increasing the Autonomy of the Blind” is a mobile digital platform developed at the Institute of Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science – INESC TEC, aimed at people who are blind or have reduced vision. In the same line of research, an electronic cane was developed to facilitate the mobility of these people and also an application that allows receiving geographic information via cell phone. The provision of these technologies aims to facilitate the inclusion of blind people in the digital society, as well as contribute to improving their quality of life. The idea was presented by João Barroso, project coordinator and researcher at INESC TEC.

Thinking about people with mental disabilities, Tânia Rocha, from the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Doutro (UTAD), presented the project entitled “Accessible Interaction Metaphor for Web Navigation without the Use of Text”. As part of her doctoral thesis, the researcher developed a digital environment based on iconic language that makes websites more accessible and allows target audiences to explore electronic information independently.      

The program included the presentation of the results and impact of two of the projects awarded in 2014: the “LIDIA Project – Adult Digital Literacy”, led by Joana Viana from the Institute of Education of the University of Lisbon, and the project “AccessWeb, Barometer of web accessibility in Portugal” coordinated by Ramiro Gonçalves from INESC TEC.

To help characterize and understand the evolution of digital literacy levels in the various regions of our country (Regional Digital Index), updated data from the study carried out at the University of Minho by Luís Miguel Ferreira, in “Regional Asymmetries of the Information Society in Portugal”, were also released. The session continued with the presentation “Scenarios (future) of the Information Society in Portugal”, by Luís Vidigal, from the Association for the Promotion and Development of the Information Society (APDSI).

It is recalled that the Digital Inclusion and Literacy Award is promoted by the FCT, as patron of the ICT and Society Network for the coordination of public policies for the Information and Knowledge Society in Portugal. It aims to support innovative initiatives in the area of digital inclusion and literacy, which present themselves as models of good practice, with the capacity to be replicated or expanded to other regions and/or other population groups.

The 2015 edition received 58 entries from entities with projects in the area of digital citizenship. The promoters of the winning projects will receive a total of €50,500 to boost their innovative ideas and launch them on the market.

The 2015 ILD awards ceremony held at the Lisbon Academy of Sciences was attended and participated by Ana Sanchez, Member of the FCT Board of Directors, and Ana Neves, head of the FCT Information Society Department.